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I doubt that huge numbers of people will abandon the e-book format and go back exclusively to print books. Sure, like any other electronic device, there are probably some e-readers sitting in drawers, but I suspect most people who have e-readers will continue to use them.
Yes there are some less than desirable aspects (to my mind at least), such as multiple formats, DRM and pricing issues. I'm also not too crazy about the uncertainty of being able to replace the battery on certain devices.
On the other hand, for me, there are two great advantages: space and portability. I am running out of room for print books and it is nice to be able to carry what can amount to a library on a small device.
Earlier this year, I started reading free e-books on my phone just to see what reading an e-book was like. I could read on my phone during my commute as opposed to having to carry a physical book. So I bought a reader shortly before going on a trip earlier this year. Wow! What a space and weight saver--although I did bring along one print book just in case.
That being said, I am still firmly committed to print books and expect to remain so. I love the feel of books. I love to smell them.
And I still enjoy going to used bookstores. One never knows what "treasures" one might find.
For me it depends on the subject matter. For example, at this point I am not that interested in reading reference books, art/photography books, graphic novels or other books that contain a lot of illustrations on an e-reader. I think some books are better suited to being read in a physical format. A good example "might" be the Kindle deal for the day: Gotham : A History of New York City to 1898. I have been interested in this book for quite some time and the price was too good to pass up, so I bought it. The book contains numerous illustrations and maps. I have paged through the print copy and it will be interesting to see how the illustrations look on an e-reader in comparison.
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